Brandon Sklenar often opened up about his experience playing Spencer Dutton on Taylor Sheridan‘s Yellowstone prequel 1923.
Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced the fictional Dutton family as they ran a ranch in Montana. After the show found success on the Paramount Network, Sheridan expanded the universe with spinoffs 1883 and 1923, which focused on various Dutton ancestors.
1923 starred Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford as Kevin Costner’s onscreen family members with season 1 following the challenges of a historic drought and Prohibition. Sklenar, meanwhile, had a scene-stealing presence in the role of Spencer Dutton.
The actor previously appeared in small roles, but it was 1923 that catapulted him into stardom. From there, Sklenar expressed gratitude to Sheridan for believing in him, which led to opportunities in It Ends with Us, Drop, The Housemaid and Sheridan’s feature film F.A.S.T.
“I’m just excited to work with great directors and great actors, and just continue to learn and grow. I’d like to direct at some point in the next five years. I’m kind of just trying to learn,” Sklenar told Forbes in 2025. “The little kid in me, I would love to do a proper western — a proper, straight western — that has been a dream of mine for a long time. I kind of touch it a little bit in 1923, but that’s something that I would love to do.”
Sklenar’s involvement in 1923 made headlines after the show wrapped when his texts with It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively were released as part of her sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
Keep scrolling for Sklenar’s past insight — and unsealed comments:
Brandon Sklenar Thanked ‘1923’ for Changing His Life
The actor publicly stated that 1923 “changed” his life. He told People in April 2025 that he was thrilled by the subsequent roles that were offered to him, adding, “It is very cool objectively that these things are happening at the same time. It’s sort of divine timing, a universal wink. It’s like, ‘Hey, good on you.’”
He added: “I’ve been kind of just pounding away for the last 16 years. It’s like the universe throwing you a bone and I really appreciate that.”
Brandon Sklenar Felt the Pressure With ‘1923’
“I didn’t know what it was,” Brandon Sklenar told People in February 2025 about the difference between seasons. “I didn’t know who [Spencer] was, I didn’t know how he was going to sound, I didn’t know how he was going to feel, I didn’t know the tone of the show, really.”
Sklenar got a better grasp on Spencer before filming the second and final season.
“And then I had almost two years between season 1 and season 2 and did other projects and just grew as a human being over two years. I was [in] my early 30s — those are some big years developmentally,” he shared. “I’m effectively a different man going into season 2 and therefore [Spencer] is.”
At the time, Sklenar acknowledged that he felt more worry when initially joining the show. “[I] honestly didn’t feel much pressure in terms of an expectation,” he said of returning to set, noting that he felt “a responsibility to do the best work” possible and “just pour every ounce of myself into it.”
He concluded: “I was literally like, ‘I’m going to approach this like it’s the last thing I’m ever going to do.’”
Brandon Sklenar Was Proud of the Show’s 2nd and Final Season
“I can confidently say that it’s going to be absolutely incredible,” Brandon Sklenar told Forbes in August 2024 about filming the show in Austin, Texas. “The tone shifts a lot and it’s definitely a bit darker. It’s very beautiful.”
Sklenar continued: “The finale of the series is probably one of the best things I’ve read in my life. I’ve kind of known how it was going to end since day one. [Show creator] Taylor [Sheridan] kind of told me. I knew the full arc of Spencer from day one … I’m really excited.”
Brandon Sklenar Was Grateful for Taylor Sheridan
Over the years, Brandon Sklenar has been candid about working with Taylor Sheridan, telling Esquire in February 2025, “I owe it all to this show. I was grinding for 12 to 13 years before that, and this was the thing that did it. For [Sheridan] to put that faith in me to play this incredible character he wrote, I’ll forever be in debt to him. I’m just so honored that I got to do it and hopefully continue to do it.”
Brandon Sklenar Expressed Frustration With the Filming Schedule
Newly released text messages in January 2026 between Blake Lively and Brandon Sklenar revealed his issues with not getting time to promote other projects.
“I hope your show gives you space to hustle. Especially once It comes out, week 2 will be a time that it will get especially heated for you. Just something to think about and maximize,” Lively wrote, to which Sklenar replied, “I’m working on it. They are particularly s***ty about that. But I’m gonna do everything I can to make it happen. It would be a crime to not ride that momentum.”
Sklenar noted that he was looking forward to production wrapping up on 1923 since the second season “was only meant to be the 8 and they added 7 more as soon as we started the first 8.”
“No more shows after this. That’s for damn sure,” he added.
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